Visitor Visas

You may need to apply for a Visitor visa in NZ if you intend to stay for more than 24 hours and want to sightsee. Normally visitors can be issued upto a maximum of 9 months in an 18 month period of time.

Passport requirements for Tourists

Travel to New Zealand without first applying for a visa – you must be from a visa waiver country to do this.

Bring your family, if they meet our criteria for visa waiver travel.

Holiday and sightsee, visit family and friends, shop and enjoy New Zealand as a visitor.

Study for a short time.

Visa Waiver Agreements

Countries who have visa waiver agreements with New Zealand:

Andorra

Argentina

Austria

Bahrain

Belgium

Brazil

Brunei

Bulgaria

Canada

Chile

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia*

Finland

France

Germany

Greece*****

Hong Kong

Hungary

Iceland

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Latvia*

Korea (South)

Kuwait

Latvia

Liechenstein

Lithuania*

Luxembourg

Malaysia

Malta

Mexico

Monaco

Netherlands

Norway

Oman

Poland

Portugal***

Qatar

Romania

San Marino

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

Slovak Republic

Slovenia

South Africa

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

United Arab Emirates

United States of America****

Uruguay

Vatican City

For citizens who aren’t on the visa waiver chart, they are required to make an application at their nearest branch or check with an immigration agent. As of 2016, online NZ visitor visa applications are now allowed and this can rapidly decrease waiting time. Other purposes for making an application at a branch including more than one person ie. a family. This includes people who may have previous criminal records under section 15 and 16 of the Immigration Act and need clearance before travel.

Tourism in NZ is currently at a record high. The biggest destinations are Auckland, Queenstown, Rotorua and the capital city Wellington. Visitors especially enjoy the café culture and spectacular scenery which has featured in movies such as Lord of the Rings. Tourism has now overtaken the dairy industry as being New Zealand’s largest economic contributor.